Parole not seen for former pastor and other news from areas around Chattanooga

Parole not seen for former pastor and other news from areas around Chattanooga

September 6th, 2013by Associated Press in Local Regional News

Parole not seen for former pastor

KNOXVILLE - A hearing officer has recommended denying parole to a former youth pastor who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex crimes involving underage girls.

The Knoxville News Sentinel and The Daily Times reported that Michael Roy Salazar, 40, tried to blame the victims for his actions during a parole hearing Wednesday.

Salazar pleaded guilty in 2010 to 20 counts of sexual battery by an authority figure and statutory rape. The five victims were from Lord's Disciples church in Maryville.

Blount County District Attorney General Mike Flynn said, "I told the hearing officer he was a predator and that, based on his comments at the hearing today and based on the fact he had a rules violation while he was in the penitentiary, I thought he was a risk to the public."

Hearing officer Jane Joyce recommended that Salazar be denied parole for six years, which is the maximum amount of time allowed between hearings.

The recommendation now goes before the state Board of Parole, which will make a final decision.

Anti-drinking ads shown in theaters

ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is using movie theaters to share its stance on underage drinking.

Department officials said they're sponsoring public service announcements on underage drinking that are being played in AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas throughout the state, and at Screenvision Theatres in Columbus.

Officials said the "Alcohol Prevention Project" is funded by a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and will run through June 30, 2014.

Travis Fretwell, assistant director of the department's Division of Addictive Diseases, said the project is focused on reducing early alcohol use among children and teens, and reducing binge drinking among teens and young adults.

Fretwell said more than 150 Georgia children die from alcohol-related issues annually.

Two critical after shooting

MADISON, Tenn. - Police say two people are in critical condition after a shooting at a vision store in Middle Tennessee.

The Tennessean reported police were called to Visionworks in Madison on Wednesday because of a domestic dispute that turned violent.

Witnesses told police Henry Darnell Talley, 30, went to the office, spoke to his 26-year-old estranged girlfriend, Ronkeisha Briley, and then shot her as she turned around to leave.

Metro Police Department spokesman Don Aaron said officers pulled Talley over minutes later near the scene and he shot himself before they got out of their patrol car.

Police say another woman at the office was grazed by gunfiree but was treated at a hospital and released.